Close on the heels of removing encroachments along Pudukottai Road in the city, the Highways department on Tuesday launched an eviction drive to remove illegal strictures at Crawford.
About 30 buildings, most of them residential dwellings, and some shops were removed with the help of three earthmovers.
Highways department officials said the encroachers were issued notices over the past six months but were not heeding to directions to vacate.
Even on Monday, a group of them made a representation at the public grievance meeting at the Collector’s Office seeking alternative arrangements.
Removing the encroachments became imperative after widening of the road so as to shift about 20 electric poles that were now in the middle of the stretch.
Tight security arrangements were made for the eviction drive.
